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yeah can we get assistance in the greeting card aisle. this guy's been trying to pick out a card for 45 minutes

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OH, YOU’RE REALLY NOT AS SMART AS I THOUGHT YOU WERE.

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how danonation be pulling up to the batman:

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balls

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the riddler and his dumb instagram lives be like

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elliott smith :-)

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elliott smith

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Kerrang! - 4 November, 2000

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My gf is ethereal

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🕯️Celebrating Winter Solstice🕯️

This is the way my partner and I have chosen to celebrate the winter solstice and the days of darkness that occur before the sun's path across the sky moves northward again on the 25th.

I thought I would share in case anyone finds this helpful in guiding their own celebration for this time of year.

🕯️In the weeks before:

-decorate a solstice tree with sun and light themed ornaments. If you wrote your intentions last year (see below) begin reflecting on these.

🕯️21st (winter solstice):

-set up altar (other posts share helpful information on how to do this, so I won't go into that here)

-place candles around home to use later that night. Use only candles for light once night falls

-hold a solstice feast and give thanks for everything good that came to you this year. If your intentions from last year manifested, give thanks for this.

🕯️22nd-23rd:

-reflect on things to let go of. Write down everything to release and let go of onto tiny scraps of paper. Continue to write down every hurt, every perceived injustice, all judgments against self or others, no matter how big or small it may seem. Put these in a jar as you write them for these two days.

🕯️24th:

-burn the yule log. One by one toss in your scraps of paper to let these things go. Visualize these dark things burning and becoming the light.

-If you have your intentions from last year (see below) reflect on what manifested, and what still remains to be done, then toss this in too to give yourself a clean slate.

-once the log finishes burning, sit down and write your intention(s) for the upcoming year on a piece of paper. Fold this paper, seal it with wax, then hang it on your solstice tree. Pack this paper away with your solstice decorations when putting them away for next year. Next solstice you can reflect on the past year's solstice intentions when unpacking decorations and setting up your tree.

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Add Some Oomph to Your Spells with Magical Timing

Like herbs, oils, and crystals, you don’t need to work with magical timing for your spell to be successful. You can cast a spell at any time, no matter your intention, and get your desired results. However, working with the energy of the sun, moon, and days of the week can add an extra power boost to your magic.

Think of it this way: certain energies are dominant at certain times. Those energies are easier to connect with because they are closer at hand, so to speak, so you can bring them into your life and your spells more easily and in a more powerful way. That doesn’t mean you can’t call on other energies during these times — it just means that you may not connect to them quite so easily.

If you choose to work with magical timing in your spells, there are several yearly, monthly, weekly, and even daily cycles you can align your spells with.

The Cycle of the Sun: Solstices and Equinoxes

These are the turning points that mark the solar year, and are associated with the relationships between day and night, light and dark, summer and winter. Each solstice or equinox marks the end of one season and the beginning for the next. Because they are so rare and so potent, these days are a great time for your “big picture” spells or for spells that need a big power boost.

Winter Solstice. The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, and falls between December 20 and December 23, depending on the year. In some pagan traditions the winter solstice, or Yule, marks the beginning of the new year — you may choose to set intentions for the coming year on this solstice. After the winter solstice, the nights start getting shorter and the days start getting longer — so spells related to healing and bringing things into the light are especially effective at this time of year. The winter solstice marks the end of the “dark half” of the year and beginning of the “light half” of the year; at this point, our focus turns from inward reflection to outward manifestation. You may choose to think of the time between the winter solstice and spring equinox as a “planning phase,” where you examine yourself and your desires, decide what you want to work on in the next year, and make plans for manifesting what you want.

Spring Equinox. An equinox occurs when the day and the night are exactly the same length, representing a perfect balance between light and dark. The spring equinox marks the beginning of spring and occurs between March 19 and March 22. The Christian holiday of Easter and the pagan holiday of Ostara are both related to the energy of this equinox. At this time of year, the natural world is coming back to life as winter begins to fade. Plants are beginning to grow, and baby animals are being born. This is a powerful time of year for fertility magic and any magic related to new beginnings. You may choose to think of the time between the spring equinox and the summer solstice as a “planting phase,” where you “plant the seed” of the things you want to manifest and begin doing the work to make it happen.

Summer Solstice. This solstice marks the longest day and shortest night of the year. It occurs between June 19 and June 23. As I am writing this post, we are coming up on the summer solstice (June 20, 2020). Life, fertility, and growth are at their peak during this time of year, which makes this solstice a perfect time for big manifestation spells. At the same time, this marks the end of the “light half” and beginning of the “dark half” of the year, so after the summer solstice our energy shifts from outward manifestation to inward contemplation. You may choose to think of the time between the summer solstice and fall equinox as the “harvest phase,” where you reap the results of your hard work and manifest your desires in the physical world.

Autumn Equinox. This is the other time of year when the day and night are perfectly balanced. The autumn equinox occurs between September 19 and September 23 and marks the beginning of autumn. This is traditionally the time of year when crops are harvested, and many pagan groups celebrate harvest festivals around this time. Nature is beginning to die or go into hibernation in preparation for the coming winter. This is an especially powerful time of year for shadow work or for magic related to endings and transitions. You may choose to think of the time between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice as the “reflection phase,” when you retreat from the outside world to rest, focus on yourself, and do your inner work and self-healing.

Important Note: This post lists dates for the solstices and equinoxes in the Northern hemisphere. In the Southern hemisphere, the seasons are reversed. If you live in the Southern hemisphere, you would observe the winter solstice in June, the spring equinox in September, the summer solstice in December, and the fall equinox in March.

The Cycle of the Moon: Lunar Phases

If you don’t have time to wait for the appropriate solstice or equinox, you can still connect with the cosmos in your magic. One of the biggest pros of the lunar cycle is that it happens roughly every month — so you never have to wait very long for the next full moon. The moon is also associated with magic and spirituality in several traditions, which makes it an especially powerful astral ally for witches.

New Moon. The new moon is when the moon is completely invisible in the night sky, and is the phase opposite the full moon. The new moon is a powerful time for shadow work (because it deals with things that are hidden) and for magic related to new beginnings.

Waxing Moon. The moon is waxing when it appears to be growing in the night sky; this is the phase between the new moon and full moon. This is a powerful time for any magic that deals with drawing something in, building something up, or strengthening something that already exists.

Full Moon. Many witches believe that the full moon is the most powerful time of month for any kind of magic. This is a good time to cast any spell that needs a serious power boost. The full moon is also an especially powerful time to release what no longer serves you or to work healing magic.

Waning Moon. The moon is waning when it appears to be shrinking in the night sky; this is the phase between the full moon and new moon. This is a powerful time for any magic that deals with sending something away, banishing negative energy, or bringing something to an end.

Dark Moon. The dark moon is the three day period immediately before the new moon. In some traditions, it is believed to be bad luck to cast spells during the dark moon. Other traditions hold that the dark moon is the best point in the lunar cycle for destructive magic, such as curses and hexes. Many modern witches don’t recognize the dark moon as a separate moon phase at all. I personally like to use the dark moon as a time for self reflection, and may focus on shadow work during this time.

Magical Correspondences for the Days of the Week

The days of the week also have their own unique magical energies, and each day is linked to a certain planet and to certain deities.

Sunday. Sunday is, of course, connected to the Sun and solar deities. Sunday is the best day of the week for any manifestation magic that needs an extra boost. Its energy is also associated with healing, personal growth, power, and success.

Monday. Monday is associated with the Moon and lunar deities. Monday is a quiet, introspective day, and can feel very ethereal. It’s the best day for magic related to intuition, nurturing, and shadow work.

Tuesday. Tuesday is associated with Mars and with gods and goddesses of war and action. (It is named for the Norse/Germanic god Tyr/Tiw.) Tuesday is a very “active” day, and is good for magic related to action, activism, victory, or finding courage.

Wednesday. Wednesday is associated with Mercury and with gods and goddesses of wisdom, learning, and communication. (It is named for the Norse/Germanic god Odin/Wodan.) Wednesday is all about mental activity. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to thought, travel, communication (written, spoken, or digital), and learning/study.

Thursday. Thursday is associated with Jupiter and with gods and goddesses of prosperity, wealth, and protection. (It is named after the Norse/Germanic god Thor.) Thursday, like Jupiter in astrology, is all about outward expansion. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to career, prosperity, and wealth.

Friday. Friday is associated with Venus and with gods and goddesses of love, fertility, and sensuality. (It is named after the Norse goddess Freyja, or perhaps the goddess Frigg.) The energy of Friday is fun, lighthearted, and sexy. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to love, beauty, and sex/sexuality.

Saturday. Saturday is associated with Saturn and with time and wisdom. (The day and the planet are both named after the Roman god Saturn.) Saturday is practical and wise, but it does have a little bit of a dark side. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to banishing and protection.

Magical Times of Day

Okay, so you’d like to start working with magical timing, but what about emergency magic and last-minute spells? What if you don’t have time to wait for the next full moon, or even the next Sunday? You can still align your spell with magical timing! There are several moments of power each day, and each has its own magical associations.

Sunrise. Sunrise is, of course, the birth of the new day. This makes it the perfect time for spells related to new beginnings or expanded possibilities.

Noon. This is the peak or high point of the day. This is a powerful time for healing magic.

Sunset. Sunset is the end of the day, and forms a gateway between light and dark. This is a great time for spells related to accepting endings, releasing that which does not serve, and moving on from the past.

Midnight. If noon is the peak of the day, then midnight is the peak of the night. Midnight has a very ethereal, transformational energy. Like with the full moon, some witches believe that any spell will be more powerful if cast at midnight. This is a powerful time for both banishing and attraction magic.

Resources:

You Are Magical by Tess Whitehurst

Green Witchcraft by Paige Vanderbeck

Wicca for Beginners by Thea Sabin [specifically the chapter on the sabbats]

Qabalah Made Easy by David Wells [Note: Qabalah is based on an appropriation of Jewish mysticism, and I am NOT endorsing its practice. However, much of the magical timing associations used in modern witchcraft is shared with Qabalah and other forms of ceremonial magic, which is why it’s referenced here.]

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🌲 Yule/ Winter Solstice 🌲

🌲Date: December 21st

🌲Ritual - Rebirth of the Sun God, return of the old god to the underworld.

🌲Astrology- Sun moves from Sagittarius to Capricorn.

🌲Lunar correspondence - Dark of the Moon.

🌲Deities- (not all listed )Solar Child, Sun King, Great Mother, Underworld/Hornes Hod, Oak King, Holly King, Saturn/ Chronos, Bel, Mabon, Hel, Hecate, Pryderi, Taliesin, Cerridwen, Balder, Apollo, Horus, Set

🌲Altar - Evergreen decorations, pine cones, oak, holly, mistletoe, herbs and candles associated with the solstice.

🌲Colors- Red, green, white, black

🌲Herbs- (not all listed) Herbs of Saturn, Capricorn, and the Sun. Traditional herbs include holly, mistletoe, pine, oak, fir, birch, chamomile, cinnamon, frankincense, myrrh, wintergreen, nutmeg, Ivy, blessed thistle, hyssop, and rosemary.

The winter solstice marks the rebirth of the Sun. On this holiday the night is the longest in the entire year, but from this point forward, the Sun’s power begins to wax. The sun waxes and wanes, like the Moon, but over the heart cycle. The two solstices are the turning points.

On this day, the aspect of the God as the force of life is reborn. As the Sun waxes, it brings more warmth, triggering the cycle of rebirth in the land. Even though we have just entered winter, there is hope. The days grow longer and the promise of renewal is there. This starts the season of light rituals.

In some traditions, the God is viewed as a child and the Universal Mother gives birth to the young Sun Kong. Others see the God of Light, as the Oak King, rising up out of the Underworld and combat the God of Darkness, the Horned God or King, and take his place as a ruler of half of the year.

To celebrate the winter solstice, focus on the rebirth of the sunlight in your life. Envision the divine light into your circle, and into your life. Meditate and draw in the power of the Sun, not only through your body but through you and into the Earth Mother. Do some inner child healing and dance in the sunlight. Light candles to indicate the dawning of light in the darkness. Your chalice can be filled with an infusion of safe solar herbs to drink in the light.

🪵 Yule Log 🪵

Yule logs are a folk tradition of using a long-burning log as a symbolize the return of the sun. Traditionally, Yule logs are kindled and an unburned piece save to be used as a symbol of protection before being used to light the new log the following year. Old Folklore suggests that the way your log burns determines how your year will go.

Usually. A Yule log is selected earlier in the year and set aside for use. Around Samhain or earlier, choose a dense; seasoned log to be your Yule log for the following year. Because each type of wood is associated with various magical and spiritual properties, logs from different types of trees. A family hoping for a year of prosperity might burn a log of pine, while a couple hoping to be blessed with fertility would drag a bough of birch to their hearth. Oak is traditionally used, but other dense, slow-burning wood-like redgum, Rowan, etc, will do the trick.

As the midwinter season approaches have each family member write down wishes, place them in the log. Decorate it with berries, ribbons, candles, and other herbs and spices. Scatter the ashes around the home/property for protection. This is because of the wood and traditionally how it was sprinkled with libations of mead, oil, or salt.

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Samhain

Activities

Put up wards to keep out unwanted spirits

Put jars of salt by your door to protect your home

Sprinkle some salt in your mouth right before you go to bed to protect your dreams

Light candles to help guide spirits

Tell stories of dead relatives and friends

Write about the dead in your book of shadows

Give offerings to your ancestors

Pray at your altar

Cleanse your space with incense

Drink hot drinks

Bake bread or pies

Add fall recipes to your book of shadows

Paint and decorate pumpkins

Contact spirits through divination

Ask for advice from your ancestors

Be thankful for the food you have

Dust and tidy your altar

Look at pictures of deceased loved ones

Dress in fall colors

Go for a walk in nature, observe the leaves turning. Consider the cycles of life and death that govern our world.

Light a bonfire/small fire (safely!) and burn papers with things that no longer serve you, that you cannot afford to take into winter.

Make an offering to your deities or ancestors

Make food with seasonal ingredients symbolic of the final harvest: squashes, pumpkins, grains, apples, spices. Even wine, if you’re allowed to drink.

Prepare your home and yourself for the coldest part of the year. Redo protection spells, clean out clutter, develop sustaining spells for winter.

Reflect on the past year. What did you lose? What people left your life, what things no longer hold meaning for you? How did you change as a person?

Work with various forms of divination, like runes, pendulums, tea leaves, or tarot.

If you do work with ouija boards you better be SUPER DUPER careful. Do not neglect protections, and if you feel uncomfortable, stop, protection spells and cleanse, cleanse, cleanse.

Give some time or money to a cause you’re passionate about. If your harvest is abundant, give back to those who were not so fortunate.

Colors

Black

Orange

Brown

Gold

Scarlet

Animals

Bat

Boar

Cat

Cow

Dog

Crow

Crystals

Jet

Obsidian

Amber

Carnelian

Fossils

Onyx

Sandstone

Turquoise

Bloodstone

Herbs and Flowers

Acorn

Angelica

Broom

Catnip

Deadly Nightshade

Dittany

Hazel

Heather

Mandrake

Mugwort

Oak leaves

Sage

Straw

Wormwood

Trees

Apple

Beech

Blackthorn

Locust

Pomegranate

Willow

Witch Hazel

Yew

Foods

Soul bread (I recommend putting something on it, it can be bland)

Roast turkey or chicken

Venison

Rice

Cod

Sea Bass

Lamb

Duck

Scallops

Oysters

Mussels

Apples

Pears

Grapes

Citrus

Pomegranate

Eggplant

Tomato

Fig

Brussel Sprouts

Kale

Pumpkin

Squash

Mushroom

Broccoli

Plumbs

Cranberries

Ginger

Peaches

Cabbage

Key limes

Passion Fruit

Radishes

Chestnuts

Beets

Fruit Pies

Fruit Cobblers

Apple Cake

Spice Cakes

Apple Cider

Hard Cider

Pumpkin spice Latte

Hot Cocoa

Apple Juice

Adult Appel Juice (wine)

Mulled Wine

Mulled Cider

Grape Juice

Chai Tea or Latte

Herbal Teas

Deities

Arawn

Belenus

Dagda

Hades

Loki

Odin

Pluto

Badb

Banba

Cailleach

Durga

Hecate

Hel

Inanna

Ishtar

Kali

Morrigan

Rhiannon

Horned God

Spells

Write a list of things you want to release and burn it

Light candles to help guide and honor spirits

Practice Spirit work

Samhain Divination

Family Meals with a place for the dead

Meditate and Reflect

Other names

All Saints Day

All Hallows Eve

Halloween

Incense/EO

Sage

Pumpkin

Patchouli

Myrrh

Straw

Flax

Wheat

Corn

Rosemary

Nutmeg

Allspice

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List of Spell Jars

I collected a lot of ingredient lists for jar spells, and then I wrote a program to analyse each category for the most common ingredients. So these are kind of… master spell-jars for each category. If you’d like me to analyse any other types of spells, let me know. I can also update this post with more categories of spell jars. All of the ingredients are in order from most to least common for each category. 

Over-all most common colors used: pink, black, white Over-all most common ingredients: salt, rose/clear quartz, cinnamon, lavender, rosemary Protection Common colors: black, white Top five most common ingredients: salt, rosemary, bay leaves, pepper, water,  Other ingredients: sea salt, sage, cinnamon, basil, garlic, mint, anise, lavender, sigil, chili, moon water, ginger, dill, clear quartz, bones

Happiness Common colors: yellow, white, orange, pink, black, red Top five most common ingredients: rose, cinnamon, salt, petals, rose quartz Other ingredients: basil, seeds, rosemary, lavender,  sea salt, orange peel, bay leaves, sugar, sunflower, coffee, lemon, clear quartz, cloves, ginger, citrine, cork, tea, eucalyptus, incense, sage, paper, string, peppermint, marjoram, chamomile

Prosperity Common colors: green, gold Top five most common ingredients: basil, cinnamon, bay leaves, salt, coins Other ingredients: rose, mint, thyme, pennies, glitter

Love Common colors: pink, red, white, black Top five most common ingredients:  rose, salt, rose petals, rose quartz, cinnamon Other ingredients: rosemary, lavender, paper, himalayan rock salt, wax, sigil, apple, water, sea salt, honey, cloves, sugar, nutmeg, seeds, scroll, pepper, cayenne

Self Love Common colors: pink, white, brown, red, blue Top five most common ingredients: rose, salt, lavender,  rose quartz, cinnamon Other ingredients: himalayan rock salt, rosemary, sugar, sea salt, water, chamomile, glitter, nutmeg, basil, wax, incense, crystals, sigil, moon water, bay leaves, peppermint, strawberry, clear quartz, amethyst, apple, thyme

Hexes Common colors: black, red, white Top five most common ingredients: salt, pepper, paper, name, taglock Other ingredients: sigil, dirt, lemon, garlic, vinegar, nails, rock, water,  chili, thread, string, ash

Luck Common colors: green, white, orange, pink Top five most common ingredients: cinnamon, salt, basil, sage, ginger Other ingredients: nutmeg, rosemary, bay, glitter, thyme, sea salt, mint, chamomile, seeds, rose, citrine, quartz, clover, orange, dandelion, sunflower, poppy, frankincense, pepper, lavender, flowers, ashes, oregano

Friendship Common colors: yellow, pink, orange Top five most common ingredients: rosemary, salt, rose, lavender, lemon Other ingredients: orange, honey, paper, petals, sage, himalayan rock salt, quartz, amethyst, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg

Anti-anxiety/Anti-depression Common colors: pink, black, white Top five most common ingredients: salt, clear quartz, lavender, rose quartz, cinnamon Ingredients: sage, sugar, chamomile, basil, thyme, clove, tea, rosemary, wax, bay leaves, amethyst, pepper, valerian, peridot Grief Common colors: black, white Top five most common ingredients: lavender, quartz, salt, sage, rosemary Other ingredients: lemon balm, thyme, rose petals, crystals